Technical Support

Chapter 23

"Now, on to the second event!!" Midnight announced a cavalry battle as the second event. Ayano was only half paying attention to the rules, having been much more interested in examining potential allies or opponents. Better yet, she was examining future clients.

Assuming the regular trend of U.A. Sports Festivals, the people who make it through to this round and further tend to become some of the best pro heroes. She wasn't analyzing them just to see who would be best to partner up with or to prepare herself for the next round. She was thinking years in advance.

The girl was suddenly jolted out of her calculations with Midnight's booming voice. "Our first-place participant is worth ten million points!!!" Ayano swiveled her head in Midoriya's direction, seeing his wide eyes and tightly gripped hands. Nervous sweat droplets were beginning to form on his temples.

It was as if he were shouldering an incredibly heavy weight.

Ayano looked up at the stands and where the teachers were sitting. She looked at All Might in his skinny form, wearing a suit that seemed all too big for him.

"The pressure one bears while standing at the top..." She looked to her childhood friend. "This is only the beginning..."

They all had fifteen minutes to make their teams. Ayano stood back, neither making a team nor looking for one. Midoriya, however, was frantically searching for her within the crowd. Having just been rejected and challenged by Iida, he was feeling even more on edge.

He found his friend standing quietly towards the back, her eyes darting to and fro. They held no uneasiness though. They weren't nervous, like somebody who was desperately trying to find teammates. They were eyes of calculation, searching and researching.

"Aya-chan!" He called out to her, causing her to look at him and Uraraka. "Let's team up!" It sounded as if it would be a demand or a request, but it held no authority to it as he was unsure of his friend's intentions.

The brown-haired girl examined her friend and the girl next to him, recognizing her to be the one with the gravity defying quirk. She briefly glanced to her left, towards a certain ash blond. Midoriya did not miss this action, but Ayano had agreed before he could say anything.

Still uncertain of her motives, he questioned her. "...Aya-chan...Did you maybe...want to team with Kacchan?" Her face didn't change. "I had considered the option, yes." At her short response, Midoriya gave her a look that prompted her to continue.

"I believe it to be more beneficial to ally with you." The boy was certainly flattered and happy that his friend would think so, but he had a feeling that it wasn't exactly because she thought he would come out on top in a fight.

"With your ten million points, all eyes will primarily be focused on you and therefore, on your teammates. There are countless support companies watching as we speak. Not to mention the pro heroes who have connections with those support companies." Midoriya chuckled, expecting no less from her.

"Our peers will also be watching." She looked over her shoulder at Bakugou. Their eyes met but Bakugou quickly turned away with a scowl and a click of his tongue. "Many of whom will be aiming for your ten million. In preparation for the battle royale tournament, being in your team allows me to analyze the most quirks and fighting styles since nearly everyone will be making an attempt for your points." Midoriya looked down at his feet.

He knew that Ayano was right. She was always logical. That didn't stop him from feeling a pang of disappointment though. Did she see Bakugou as a bigger threat than him? "Do not misunderstand." He quickly looked back up at her.

"I intend to challenge you as well. I may see you as a friend, but I will stop at nothing to reach the top. I am allying with you now because that is the best possible option for me." Ayano began digging into her bag of support items. "Knowing how you are, I assume you intend to run away and hold onto the ten million for the whole fifteen minutes." She continued at his small nod, pulling out various gadgets.